Changing an Absolute Reference to a Relative Reference or Vice Versa

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» Changing an Absolute Reference to a Relative Reference or Vice Versa

CATEGORY: Working with Formulas

VERSIONS: All Microsoft Excel Versions

Relative Reference

When a formula is copied, a Relative reference is used. A Relative reference is the distance, in rows and columns, between the reference and the cell containing the formula.
For example: In cell A1, type the number 100, and in cell B1, type the formula =A1. Cell B1 is one column to the right of cell A1. When the formula is copied from cell B1 to cell B10, the distance between the reference and the cell containing the formula remains one column, and the formula in cell B10 is =A10.

Absolute Reference

Select cell B1 from the previous example. In the Formula Bar, select A1, and then press F4. The result is =$A$1.
Copy the contents of cell B1 to cell B10. Notice that the formula does not change – the formula reference remains constant as =$A$1.

The F4 Key

The F4 keyboard shortcut has four states:
State 1: Absolute reference to the column and row, =$A$1
State 2: Relative reference (column) and Absolute reference (row), =A$1
State 3: Absolute reference (column) and Relative reference (row), =$A1
State 4: Relative reference to the column and row, =A1

Screenshot // Changing an Absolute Reference to a Relative Reference or Vice Versa

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READER COMMENTS (view all comments)

Linking Worksheets and maintaining the constant value
Phyllis Parker wrote on December 31, 1969 19:00 EST

I have a spreadsheet with many rows. If I copy the data I want out of that spreadsheet and move to another spreadsheet and click Link. Is there a way I can sort the data differently in the secondary spreadsheets and it will still be linked to the correct cells in the original without going through each cell and adding the $ signs?
Thank you.

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